The noble idea of establishing a state university in Damaturu was recommended to the state government by the committee on a blueprint for the educational development of Yobe state, its sub-committee on higher education submitted the report stating the desirability for a university in Yobe.

Following the NUC’s encouragement of state and private organization to establish viable universities and the rapid growth of post-primary and tertiary institutions in the state became obvious that a large number of potential university candidates would emerge seeking admission into the university in Yobe. The state under the leadership of his Excellency governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim decided to establish a university named Bukar Abba Ibrahim University and immediately constituted the planning committee with Professor Muhammad Nur Alkali as Chairman. The committee started to plan the take-off of the university in January 2007.

The academic brief, the law, and master plan were produced and approved by the national universities commission (NUC) the university is planned for a 25 year period and provides the details of the vision, mission, philosophy and objectives, administrative structure, and research policy of the university. The brief captures the faculties, departments, and courses that the university shall establish at its inception and at its full maturity over a twenty-five year period. It also captures the number of staff and students that shall populate the university in the first ten years of its existence as well as the resources required to run the university during the same period.

• Total Enrollment : 9,842
• Undergraduate/Graduate ratio : 86:8:6
• No. of International Students : 1
• No. of Faculties : 5
• Student Faculty ratio : 1:951
• No. of Staff : 1,536